Senate Opportunity to Expand Trade, Promote Growth
Senate Opportunity to Expand Trade, Promote Growth
(Washington D.C.) – Today the Senate voted to proceed to debate on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the president – an authority that has been extended to each president over the last 40 years. Consideration of the bill has been complicated by the defeat last week of a related Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) bill in the House of Representatives – amidst overwhelming opposition by House Democrats – which caused the two pieces of legislation to be de-linked. Now, the stand alone TPA bill must be approved by the Senate in order to send it to the president for his approval. TPA would grant the president the ability to negotiate trade agreements without fear of Congress later dissecting the deal. Agreements would still have to meet objectives outlined by Congress, which would then be required to consider it with a simple up-or-down vote.
Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:
“We’ve been experiencing aslow “˜recovery’ for six years now and a way we could accelerate growth is through expanded trade. It would give the president the authority to establish new export opportunities for American companies – growing the job base – while giving American consumers greater access to quality goods at competitive prices. The renewal of bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority will jumpstart a strong trade agenda that can help put America back to work.
TPA has helped America secure strong trade deals for decades. This isn’t a unilateral authority for the president; it ensures a transparent process while empowering the president’s negotiation ability. America won’t grow if it ignores foreign markets, we need to compete globally. A bipartisan Senate vote will help us do so.”
For Interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 703-678-4581 or Josh Rivera, 202-763-4428
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